King Barrow Quarry
Dorset Wildlife Trust is inviting people to go back in time this September to explore the past in Portland’s famous quarries. The iconic limestone peninsula will be giving up some of its hidden history at a Wild About Weymouth and Portland Geology Walk to help people discover their local landscape.
Among the secrets of Dorset Wildlife Trust’s King Barrow Quarries reserve is an ancient forest where you can see the fossilised remains of pre-historic trees. As well as ancient trees turned to stone, the disused quarry has rope stone, full of fossils of long-ago oysters and cockles, old mining railway tunnels and ancient stone walls. Disused for over 100 years, King Barrow Quarries is now one of the only places in Portland displaying the original land height of the area.
Nicky Hoar, Communications Officer at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “Portland is one of Dorset’s gems, rich in wildlife, history and geology. Its famous limestone, which was used to build many of London’s most iconic buildings, has amazing stories to tell us. It is also a fantastic place to see wildlife, with species such as Adonis and chalkhill blue butterflies, whitethroats, linnets, meadow pipits and little owls spotted on the nature reserve, not to mention its lichens and wildflowers. This is a chance to discover a Dorset gem.”
Dorset Wildlife Trust is celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year
Wild About Weymouth and Portland, a partnership between Dorset Wildlife Trust, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Dorset Countryside and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, is funded by the Big Lottery Fund through Natural England’s Access to Nature programme, to encourage people to discover, enjoy and help conserve the borough’s wonderful natural environment.
The Geology Walk at King Barrow Quarries Nature Reserve is on Wednesday 14th September at 11:00am till 1:00pm. Meet at the entrance to the reserve, by the name stone, just off the A354 (grid reference SY 689728). Please wear suitable footwear, as the ground surface is uneven. Booking is essential. Please contact Samantha Dallimore on 01305 816546.
